Reaction on Water: A Greener Approach for the Thia Michael Addition on N-Aryl Maleimides

A greener, economical, and efficient methodology for the Michael addition of thiols to N-aryl maleimides has been developed.     

Magnetoelectric properties of Gd and Nd-doped nickel ferrite

Ferromagnetic and ferroelectric characteristics of Gd and Nd-substituted nickel ferrite were investigated. The materials formed in the cubic inverse spinel phase with small amounts of GdFeO₃ and NdFeO₃ as the additional phases in the respective materials. Substitution of Gd and Nd for Fe caused decrease in the saturation magnetization and Curie temperature of the nickel ferrite. However, the saturation magnetostriction is seen not to change significantly by the substitution of Gd and Nd. The existence of the ferroelectricity was confirmed from the ferroelectric loops and magnetocapacitance of −2% and −3% were observed. The large frequency dependence of the (high) dielectric constant reveals a wide dispersion of relaxation times. The ferroelectric transition temperature values of NiO.Fe_1.95Gd_0.05O₃ and NiO.Fe_1.95Nd_0.05O₃ were found to be 498 and 544 K, respectively.     

Synthetic approach to seco-tetracenomycin natural products saccharothrixone A–C

Design and development of first synthetic approach to the functionalized tetracyclic framework of structurally novel seco-tetracenomycin natural products saccharothrixones A–C has been reported. A thermal dehydro Diels-Alder reaction of an arenyne-alkyne unit has been utilized as the key synthetic step. This strategy has been extended for the generation of a small library of diversely functionalized tetracyclic systems of seco-tetracenomycins. An approach for the synthesis of poly-hydroxyl tetracyclic system has also been described. This report represents the first synthetic approach to the tetracenomycin natural products saccharothrixones A–C.     

GeO2 fibers: preparation, morphology and photoluminescence property

Nanomicron to submicron fibers of GeO(2) have been prepared using poly(vinyl acetate) and germanium dioxide sol by electrospinning followed by high temperature calcination. The morphology of the fibers have been studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. X-ray diffraction indicates that the fibers are single crystal with hexagonal alpha-phase quartz-like structure. At room temperature, the fibers show photoluminescence under excitation at 325 nm. The fibers may have potential applications in one-dimensional optoelectronic nanodevices.     

Preparation of Feather Keratin Hydrolyzate‐Gelatin Composites and Their Graft Copolymers

With the aim of utilizing the Keratinous waste material, poultry feather, which is up till now discarded as a waste, was hydrolyzed to form keratin hydrolyzate (FH). As FH does not form a film, it was mixed with gelatin (G) and FH‐G composite was prepared in film form. FH‐G was further graft co‐polymerized with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) to achieve better physico‐chemical properties for the resultant hydrogels. Percentage grafting studies and IR studies confirmed the grafting of PHEMA onto FH‐G. FH‐G‐PHEMA exhibited better mechanical properties compared to FH‐G and FH‐PHEMA. TG studies clearly indicated the grafting of HEMA onto FH and FH‐G. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) pictures of FH‐G and FH‐PHEMA films exhibited brittle nature on their surface, whereas continuity and A smooth surface was observed on for the FH‐G‐PHEMA films.     

In Vitro and In Silico Studies for the Identification of Potent Metabolites of Some High-Altitude Medicinal Plants from Nepal Inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein

Despite ongoing vaccination programs against COVID-19 around the world, cases of infection are still rising with new variants. This infers that an effective antiviral drug against COVID-19 is crucial along with vaccinations to decrease cases. A potential target of such antivirals could be the membrane components of the causative pathogen, SARS-CoV-2, for instance spike (S) protein. In our research, we have deployed in vitro screening of crude extracts of seven ethnomedicinal plants against the spike receptor-binding domain (S1-RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Following encouraging in vitro results for Tinospora cordifolia, in silico studies were conducted for the 14 reported antiviral secondary metabolites isolated from T. cordifolia—a species widely cultivated and used as an antiviral drug in the Himalayan country of Nepal—using Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking (GOLD), Molecular Operating Environment (MOE), and BIOVIA Discovery Studio. The molecular docking and binding energy study revealed that cordifolioside-A had a higher binding affinity and was the most effective in binding to the competitive site of the spike protein. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies using GROMACS 5.4.1 further assayed the interaction between the potent compound and binding sites of the spike protein. It revealed that cordifolioside-A demonstrated better binding affinity and stability, and resulted in a conformational change in S1-RBD, hence hindering the activities of the protein. In addition, ADMET analysis of the secondary metabolites from T. cordifolia revealed promising pharmacokinetic properties. Our study thus recommends that certain secondary metabolites of T. cordifolia are possible medicinal candidates against SARS-CoV-2.     

Intrinsic viscosities of sodium carboxymethylcellose in acetonitrile–water mixed solvent media using isoionic dilution method

Precise measurements on the viscosities of the solutions of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in water and in two acetonitrile–water mixtures containing 10 and 20 vol % of acetonitrile have been reported at 35, 40 and 50 °C. Isoionic dilutions were performed with the total ionic strengths of the solutions maintained with sodium chloride at ～4.20 × 10^?4 and 1.45 × 10^?3 mol dm^?3 of NaCl to obtain the intrinsic viscosities. The Huggins constants were also obtained from the experimental results. The influences of the medium, the temperature, and the total ionic strength on the intrinsic viscosities as well as on the Huggins constants have been interpreted from the points of view of the solvodynamic and thermodynamic interactions prevailing in the polyelectrolyte solution under investigation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1765–1770, 2007     

Synthesis of 2-Aroylimjnopyrimido[3,2-B]-1,2,4-Thiadiazolines

N-Aroyl-N′-(pyrimid-2-yl)-thioureas (2) have been synthesised by the reaction of 2-amino pyrimidines (1) with aroyl chlorides and ammonium thiocyanate in acetone- Cyclisation of 2 with PCl₅ in POCl₃ and as well as by oxidising agents gave 2-aroyHrninopyrimido[3,2-b]-1,2,4-thiadiazolines (3).     

Modified titanium surface with gelatin nano gold composite increases osteoblast cell biocompatibility

This study examined the gelatin nano gold (GnG) composite for surface modification of titanium in addition to insure biocompatibility on dental implants or biomaterials. The GnG composite was constructed by gelatin and hydrogen tetrachloroaurate in presence of reducing agent, sodium borohydrate (NabH₄). The GnG composite was confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A dipping method was used to modify the titanium surface by GnG composite. Surface was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The MC-3T3 E1 cell viability was assessed by trypan blue and the expression of proteins to biocompatibility were analyzed by Western blotting. The GnG composite showed well dispersed character, the strong absorption at 530 nm, roughness, regular crystal and clear C, Na, Cl, P, and Au signals onto titanium. Further, this composite allowed MC-3T3 E1 growth and viability compared to gelatin and pure titanium. It induced ERK activation and the expression of cell adherent molecules, FAK and SPARC, and growth factor, VEGF. However, GnG decreased the level of SAPK/JNK. This shows that GnG composite coated titanium surfaces have a good biocompatibility for osteoblast growth and attachment than in intact by simple and versatile dipping method. Furthermore, it offers good communication between cell and implant surfaces by regulating cell signaling and adherent molecules, which are useful to enhance the biocompatibility of titanium surfaces.